In a message dated 97-10-22 20:43:17 EDT, [log in to unmask] (Robert A. Roach) writes: << The bumblebee is a more efficient pollinator than Apis mellifera. They start earlier, work later and visit more flowers per bee. They also "sonicate" or buzz the flowers which releases more pollen. >> The statement is true for individual bees, but needs to be qualified. On curcurbits each bumblebee is worth about 3 honeybees. They are very fuzzy and brawney, so they are more efficient as they push their way into the flower. (Good pollination is not accomplished by a single visit of either. I'd like to see 7-8 visits by a bumblebee or 20 by a honeybee.) But bumblebees nest in colonies of 50-150. Honeybees nest in colonies of 20,000 to 30,000. So there is definitely a quantitative advantage on the honeybee side. Honeybees also show fidelity to one species of plant, and they communicate to other bees where the goodies are, so their pollinator value increases. Bumblebees will happily go from dandelion to apple blossom. And they do not tell others where to go. They are very haphazard, with each worker going off on her own. Both are important pollinators, and we need both. But I couldn't let go by a blanket statement about bumblebees being more efficient. Each has strengths and weaknesses. There are some (I think delusional) folks who are gleefully rejoicing over the problems that honeybees are having. They think this will lead to a marvelous resurgeance of the wild native bees, and everything will be hunky dory with agriculture again. I think actual experience with commercial crop pollination, under contemporary conditions would cure them. We need to learn to manage, enhance, and protect ALL pollinators from pesticide misuse and the other threats they face. Honeybee keepers who are involved in pollination ought to be also studying up on, and maybe involved in, the culture of other pollinators. And those who are rooting for native bees, should not be trying to shut out the honeybee keepers and take pot shots at them. We are natural allies. Bob, I'm not accusing you of this. I just want the beekeepers to be aware that this outlook is around and seems to be growing. [log in to unmask] Dave Green Hemingway, SC USA http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html